Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-07-30

How Fort Myer Appears with its New
Garrison

THE TROOPS NOW CHARTERED ON THE VIRGINIA
sHonD-FnR oFYTcBRs AND soLDIERs-cAPT. LAW
TONS Troop TH2PoRARLY m TENTs-IMPRovB
AENrs At THI PosF coNrExrLATED - WORKING
OUT his RENT.
STAR reporter paid Q visit the other day TO thu
new cavalry garrison at Fort Myer. A mort
oeautiful location, or one better adapted to the
purposes OF a permanent cavalry post could moi
wen be found. Fort Myer is situated on the high
virginia bills. In close proximity to the famous
Arlington Cemetery, and overlooks the Potomac
and the entire city. The view from the reserva-
ton Ii beautiful, and the officers and soldiers who
ere 70 make It their home for several years tt
come are to be heartily congratulated on having
such attractive surroundings. The post is reached
oy the main road from the AQueduct Bridge Il
Arlington. This road Is In fne condition, but the
reconstruction OF the Aqueduct Bridge which is In
progresa necessitates closing that bridge, 30 tina,
THE VIRGINIA SHORE
can only be reached by ferry from West Wash
ington, BY the Long Bridge, or by the round
about way OF the Chain Bridge. The ferry is much
preferred by the Virginia farmers and others whc
to cross the river, by reason OF It's
Q thriving business When the new free bridge i:
completed the road to Fort Myer and Arlington
WIN anord one OF the most attractive drives about
ton Fort Ayer did not AFFORD many inducements
TO visitor. but as . cavalry garrison with We'll
the Doss SNOWY uniforms nn;. ana R9od horses
rounding attractions OF the Capital.
TIE OFFICERS OF THE POST.
The post Is commanded by Major l. n. Car
penter, 9th cavalry, and the garrison consists OF
Capt. Geo. 8. Andersons troop of the 5th cavalry
forty-eight men and forty-two horses, and Capt.
flve men and sixty-five horses. When The STAR
reporter reached Fort Myer the result OF a years
although everything was in good condition. since
the fort was abandoned oy the signal Service last
summer nothing has been done there beyond pro-
OF soldiers New life was infused into the reser-
walton, however, by the arrival Of Capt. Ander-
sons troop OF the 9Th cavalry on the 18th OF July,
their quarters in the barracks.
TWELVE sNOw-wHIrE TENTS
In . row just north Of the parade ground, and at
hight angles to the barracks are the temporary
quarters Of Capt. Lawton's troop, which arrived
last week. Each tent affords protection for four
special dQty about the reservation. The old
Signal Service guard-house Is in daily use and the
s % couple OF patients but the
well patronized as the former. During the sum-
mer no protection is required for the horses, and
they are kept picketed some distance southwest
OF the buildings where there is plenty OF good
grass and where the new stables are to be erected
Iof their accommodation before The snow 1ieS.
TIE OFFICERS QUARTERS
The row OF unassumiag but comfortable frame
houses fronting on the main road, which are the
oncers' quarters. were nearly deserted when the
reporter called, as the new officers were not yet
settled. Major Carpenter is q bachelor, but the
posi- DOCTOR Is family man. Capt. Lawton is
On the other hand, Capt Anderson Is bachelor,
while his two neutenanJs are married. No ladies'
nave yet arrived at the post. Capt. Lawton's wife
started for the East as soon as the order for her
nusOandS company To come East was issued, but
she stopped at Louisville. Major Carpenter and
Capt Lawton mad botn gone to the city when The
STAR man arrived. Capt. Anderson was found
hard at work experimenting the unpacking OF his
personal effects. He desisted from his labOrs how
welcome Comfortably seated on the front We
randall, which affords beautiful view OF the city
ana river, Capt Anderson grew quite enthusiastic
over tne attractions OF their new station.
IMPROVEMENTS CONTEMPLATED.
I'VE had no idea that the place was so beauti-
full, he said. "With these natural advantages the
desire OF Gen. Sheridan to make this show cav
airy post cannot help being fulfilled. We have
$4,000 for improvements, which is quite liberal
appropriation, and will nelp us nicely. Twenty
three thousand dollars OF the amount Will be used
Tor building new barracks and stables, and the
0tner $1,000 Tor repairs to The present buildings.
The old stables will be used for the Quartermas-
ters department. Some OF the stOre-hOuSes could
DO transformed INTO stables, but Gen. Sheridan be-
ueves that this will be permanent post and is
II favor OF erecting entirely new stables, as being
The Slgnal-Ser people were very fortunate in
having their appropriations made so that they
could keep the grounds in line condition. We are
az disadvantage In this respect, and experience
considerable difficulty In getting work DONE To
be sure We can get plenty OF military labor, but
we are averSe TO taking men from their regular
Soldler duty and putting them to work digging
and ShOyeling This Is to be cavalry garrison
ana we are going To drill our men. Our main depend
ence Is a band Of cOlOred people who live on the
edge OF the reservation, and pay nominal rent to
the government by working about the reservation.
There Is fellow that Is making about a dollar a
day In rent, said the captain, pointing to cOlOred
boy who had been set to work hOeing the grass
from the gutter alongside the road. Look at
him"
WORKING OUT HIS RENT.
The boy made several half hearted strokes with
his hoe, and then stood like statue looking in
tently down the road. After minute or two he
turned and looked the other way. He did not make
another stroke, but apparently became tired Of
standing and took seat in the shade of tree
ana began playing In the sand, using his hands
Tor an hour glass. He did no more work during
IHE STAR mans stay. In answer to an inquiry
Capt. Anderson said that the horses OF his troop
were blacks while those OF Capt. Lawton's were
pays. He explained the difference in the sizes
OF the companies by stating that when ordered
East there were no other companies or his regiment
anywhere near them, so that it would have been
impossible TO increase hiSsnumber OF men. He
simply obtained permission to leave behind seve-
raj Arizona horses which would be of no use in the
East. Capt. Lawton'S troops, however, when the
ln0lan campaign was competed, was in position
70 De recruited from other companies Of the regt-
OF men and horses. His troop, he said, would soon
be nlled with both men and horses, and everything
u expected to bs in good running order In little
while.